The Columbus journal., 1887-04-27
Southern California.

Southern California.
The last number of the National City
Cal.) Record contains a lengthy article
in regard to u published interview
with Mr.. Gerard, first rejecting on the
JOURNALS accuracy in reporting IA In
terview. second on the exactness OF Mr..
Gerrard's gathering of the facts con-
corning Southern California i n the few
weeks OF his sojourn, and third, raising
the question of sinister motive on the
mart of both of us, and Gaping the
climax by asking us to please copy the
whole business.
Mr.. Frank Burgess, the writer OF the
article, was formerly of this place and Is
very we'll known to many of our Column
bus readers, having conducted a paper
here for eighteen months, several years
ago. 1t is not necessary for either Mr..
Gerard or the JOURNAL to enter into
any question of veracity or OF motive
with MI. Frank Burgess. We think that
Mr.. Gerard, who is a very close ob-
server. of men and things, acquired a
large fund of accurate information con-
corning southern California for the few
weeks he wal there; We believe he saw
onl ro I,nu Tho JnYrpEAU. "a
ported him Justly. Frank must not
think that a reasonable man will be
blind to either the good Oh the bad, and
Mr.. Gerard gave both, just as he saw
them. The JOURNAL has no desire to
belittle southern California, believes
that some portions of it would be de-
sirable to wealthy invalids, but thinks
that, all things considered, Nebraska
leads the world. We would call the at
tention of Mr.. Burgess to the following
article from the San Francisco ArgOndut.
Being a California paper, may it not be
considered as worthy of credence?
Opinions concerning the Southern California
boom must depend largely upon the standpoint
from which it is viewed. That there is a large
influx of intelligent visitors and excursionists
from the Eastern States to the Counties 81 Los
parent. This stream has been large, continuous,
and is apparently still unabated; it is composed
Of the better middle class OF Eastern people,
who, having possessed sufficient intelligence to
accumulate for themselves moderate fortunes.
may doubtless be intrus.ed with q change of
residence and an investment OF their
tons in a new land. The real dealers of
the southern counties are not to be held account
able for the speculation now raging In town lots
and suburban lands. for it is beyond the pru-
dence and moderation of human nature not to
dispose of lands or stocks or personal property
to the excited and credulous when they stand
cismorins Tor rroEEss:sy At a. H .rs 81 6e f%3 dts Its
who has waited long and patiently in dull cities
or unenterprisin9 towns, nor the owner Of lands
unproductive and unremunerative except by the
brace SO good an opportunity to dispose of prop
erty rs has been presented by the influx of the
greedy Eastern purchaser. These people are
become owners Of orange groves and vineyards
in Southern California. Scale-bug and phyl-
loxera have no terrors for the Eastern tourists;
they drink OF the vine and eat OF the fruits with;
out dread OF pests; they dream of the vineclad
cottage; covered with roses, in q Towering
orange grove. of orchards of olive, flowing with
fluid bursting from their green sides. IL does
not occur to them that the raising of fruit is
attended with labor and costly expenditures;
that one cannot work and live upon pomegran-
ates. oranges, and olive oil. nor upon climate
and the imagination, but that the stomach of the
laboring man yearns after ham, side, bacon, and
cOrned pork brought from the East; after coffee
imported from South America; after tea raisei
in China or Japan; after sugar brought from the
Sandwich Islands and refined by Sir Edward
Steele; after clOthes-fOr even the soft and balmy
climate of Southern California renders clothing
comfortable at all seasons, and at times indis-
pensable: that dwellings are regarded as neces-
sary for people who have been reared in the
indulgence of the higher luxuries Of civilization;
that fences are required for the Enclosure and
protection of crops; that barns and corrals are
needed for the housing OF stock; that, "a none of
these things and the Thousand other commodities
Indispensable for comfort can he raised in
Southern California, they must be imported from
other lands, and must be paid for in such pro-
ducts of southern soil rs can find some broader
market than the locality in which they are
raised.
These considerationsd do not address themselves
to the man of great wealth and fixed income, who
for his own health and comfort, or for the pleas
ure OF some invaded loved one, leaves the rig
orous northern home to seek a softer and more
luxurious climate. To the maj of fortune who
after a life of labor seeks retirement and cas-
for the enjoyment Of his wealth there is no NOR,
attractive place in the world than California.
nor any in which the dolce far niente is enjoya.
BILE with more of ease and dignity. To that elias
If Eastern people who come to California witt
moderate fortunes, seeking investment in land;
nponw which our own labor is to be expended,
and upon which they are to depend for their
future support and for the support of their fam
lilies, there is no place in California which ia not
Letter suited for them than the counties named.
We are not now addressing ourselves to thu
wealthy or the speculative; how the rich spend
ner in which the gambler in lands or minin; |
stocks or at the green cloth acquires his money
We are equally Indifferent. But, when the farmer
Of Cook or Carroll County in illinois sells his
farm of rich and productive soil worth $40 per
acre at $f5 and purchases land in Southern Cali
fornia at $6UU per acre or lot ut Pasadena for
$l.oo Per front foot we think-and We beg his
pardon for the frank expression of our opinion |
we think him a most cOnsummate ass, and when